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The worlds first launched Wing Rider Rollercoaster Thunderbird at Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana

Here is Holiday World's PR Maven Paula Werne having fun and working the social media during the event.  She was shooting video of the ride and I just happened to be sitting down enjoying some Thunderbird Ice Cream (it has quite a kick) and the light looked great so I decided to snap a quick photo of her.

The worlds first launched Wing Rider Rollercoaster Thunderbird at Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana

Part of the Mantra of Negative-G and those who join us on our Forums is that "we ride until parks kick us out".  We get everything we can out of the magical hours we get at any amusement park.  While Holiday World certainly did not kick us out eventually with just a few of us remaining it was time for one last ride before the day was to come to an end.

The worlds first launched Wing Rider Rollercoaster Thunderbird at Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana

Here is Bond and Billy after twelve hours of riding Thunderbird and Voyage.

The worlds first launched Wing Rider Rollercoaster Thunderbird at Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana

After the last ride and and it was just us and park personnel remaining like Paula they wondered what I thought about Thunderbird.

The worlds first launched Wing Rider Rollercoaster Thunderbird at Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana

My reply was that I had already asked Carrie if we could move back to Santa Claus.  Thunderbird is as amazing as The Raven, The Legend and The Voyage and like those three I couldn't stop riding it. 

If you are in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arlansas or just love coasters you need to book a visit to Holiday World.  Bond and I already have as we are heading back for two coaster filled days in May for the annual HoliWood Nights enthusiast event.  I am particularly looking forward to taking on Thunderbird in the dark.

The worlds first launched Wing Rider Rollercoaster Thunderbird at Holiday World, Santa Claus, Indiana

One parting tip for you.  I have favorite seats on all of Holiday Worlds coasters.  On the Raven it is the rear right side. The Legend it is the same.  For The Voyage my seat is the second row.  All of those choices are after riding in each seat over and over and are my personal opinion to which seat gives the best ride. 

For Thunderbird it is not necessarily which seat but which side to ride on as with a train as wide as a wing coasters you have different experiences with different sides.  I found myself heading to the left side as Thunderbird has more close calls with the ground and during the zero g roll the interaction with the trees on that side just makes the ride.  Go for the front for the view but I tended to go to the back for the forces.



Holiday World has an amazing ride on their hands here and you need to go ride it.

Thanks to the Koch family, Paula Werne and her PR staff, all of the Voyage and Thunderbird ride operators and the rest of the staff of Holiday World for having us.  We miss you all and can't wait to come back.  



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Paul B. Drabek